New Tsuba from Fla Show

[raven2]

Hi everyone,

 

Just got back home from Fla (stayed for vacation after the show). Here are the two new tsuba I picked up. As usual, any comments would be appreciated.

 

#1. Small Higo tsuba from what I believe is the early Edo period. 6.65 X 6.18 cm. Mimi 4.0 mm. Seppa dai 3.6mm

 

#2. Bushu tsuba again from early Edo period. 7.24 X 6.71 cm. Mimi 4.8 mm. Seppa dai 5 mm. Mei - Yu ki aki

[Bob M.]

Hi Fred,

 

I am quite familiar with the small higo piece , having owned it for the last eight or nine years .

 

I recently sold approx. 100 tsubas through Christies in London and this was one of them . Inevitably when selling a large number of pieces , there are 2 or 3 items that you regret losing after the sale has concluded and this is certainly one of those . Although not a large piece , the workmanship is very good - under magnification , it is possible to still see remnants of inscribed pattern markings - and when viewed almost edge on , the regularity of piercing is also nicely done.

 

Funnily enough I puchased the tsuba from a collector in Florida all those years ago - ironic it should be back on sale there after a ' vacation ' in the U.K.

 

I hope you find it to be a good addition to your collection !

[raven2]

Hi Bob,

 

Well that is some interesting news. I am very pleased with the piece. I was first attracted to it by the workmanship. Interestingly, when I first picked it up I thought it was bent but then realized it was an optical illusion. The tsuba is rather like an Escher print if you look at it for a while. It is nice to know some of its history. Thanks for the info. :D

[Soshin]

Hi Fred D.,

 

I generally don't collect Higo school tsuba but I really like the Higo tsuba. The optical illusion is a cool effect I wonder if the tsubako knew this type of illusion would happen with this type of design across the surface of the tsuba?

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S.

[raven2]

Hi David,

 

I have to agree with you. I am not necessarily a Higo fan (in fact I am not specifically attracted to any school) but this piece was so very different from anything I have seen that I couldn't leave it. It certainly is a possibility he knew that he was getting that effect but my guess is he was just trying to make that design as well as he could. I got it from Fred Geyer and he felt that it was probably made as a special order and considering the work involved in it, I don't doubt it. :D (btw although it doesn't really show in the picture, it is pierced through in all of those tiny holes, so if you hold it up to the light, it is a true mesh)

[Thierry BERNARD]

hi

 

here one of mine with the same design and better pictures !

[raven2]

Thanks Thierry,

 

I guess it wasn't a custom job after all, but still a huge amount of work and a wonderful piece.

[Soshin]

Thierry and Fred D.,

 

I wonder what the size is for your tsuba Thierry? If it is katana size then bring the two tsuba together would make a very nice matching daisho set. :D

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S.

[raven2]

You are very right about that, David. It would make a very nice set if Thierry's is katana size. Mine might be a little small for a wakazashi though.

[k morita]

Hi Fred, :D

 

The signature of #2-Tsuba is not "Yu ki aki" but Yoshiaki.

[docliss]

Judging by the kao, this would appear to be a work by H 11423.0, working ca 1900 and listed as Y 105 in Shōsankenshu John L.

[raven2]

Hi Fred, :D

 

The signature of #2-Tsuba is not "Yu ki aki" but Yoshiaki.

 

Sorry, my mistake. I am not the best at kanji.

[raven2]

Judging by the kao, this would appear to be a work by H 11423.0, working ca 1900 and listed as Y 105 in Shōsankenshu John L.

 

 

Thank-you John, I appreciate the information.